Fundraising efforts to replace some $22,000 in missing band booster funds have exceeded anyone’s expectations. During the evening Santa Paula Police Chief Steve McLean announced that over $40,000 had been raised in total. Above accepting checks that were collected by the Police Chief (L-R) Jerry Cruz (Assistant Band Director), Chief Steve McLean, and Doug Kadansky (SPHS Band Director)

The "Save our Tour" concert a big celebration, over $40,000 raisedClick for Video

May 14, 2014

ByBrian D. Wilson

Santa Paula News

The Santa Paula High School Band is going to the San Francisco Heritage Festival this weekend, thanks to overwhelming community support.

The fundraising efforts to replace some $22,000 in missing band booster funds have exceeded anyone’s expectations. Before Saturday’s concert the money raised was at about $22,000. During the evening Santa Paula Police Chief Steve McLean announced that over $40,000 had been raised in total. He said a check for $5,000 came in to the police department Saturday. “Who can’t relate to hard-working kids getting ripped off,” McLean said. Even his daughter emptied her piggy bank. McLean called it a total team effort.He said the mothers are the real heroes. He noted that they’ve been raising money over the years, “One bake sale at a time. What I did was nothing.” The Chief said money came in from as far away as Washington State. He told about a gang member who brought in $20, saying it was all he had. “I told him that his donation means as much as a check for $5,000 and I shook his hand,” McLean said. He also gave credit to Band Director Doug Kadansky and Assistant Director Jerry Cruz, saying, “They’ve dedicated their lives to these kids.” He added that this effort was an example of a community coming together, taking care of their own.Kadansky said he was very grateful to the community. “I’m hoping to build a stronger program,” he added. After the trip is paid for Kadansky said he’d like to use the excess money raised to restore the band budget. He also said he’s going to ask the school board to consider a matching program to purchase new instruments to replace the many worn out instruments they currently use.The booster fund money was needed to pay for Santa Paula High School band students going to San Francisco for a competition scheduled for May 16-18. They leave at 7:00 am Friday